Compare towns
Woonsocket vs Union vs Plainville vs Central Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Woonsocket | Union | Plainville | Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 43,521Highest |
944Lowest |
17,551 |
22,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Union and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Union and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Central Falls and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Central Falls and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 38 in RI | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #38 of 38 in RI |
| School district | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Union School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning |
| High school in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town | Plainville High School | Central Falls Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.2Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.